Litchfield enquirer., 1864-04-21

! .......z L. NEWS OF THE WEEK. t F THf CHEsAxoo.-The terrible explosion which occurred on this boat of Quarantine Fri: Eday afternoon, is far more disastrous tAap was at 6rstsapposed. or the thity three iniasea. only sur are expected to survive. Most of the engineers and several petty officers we're killed. Frank P. Root, Acting Second Assis-- tant Engineer, was from Connecticut. He leaves wife and three small children in Brook lyn unproyided for. The scene of suffering is described hy sye-wituesses as truly appalling. 1nsessral lcases the men wgre so scalded, thai the skin was elnostentirely removed from their bolies, preseaa!tipg aa!tipg a sickening spectacle. The last lw2sds of the engineer on duty were f: Doctor, thank God the boiler was full," thus
 estasEshing the fact that no. carelessness can can be attached to him. zsss ssg efsaii sa a5 !
 REBEL BUrcHER1Es.- Dispatches from Cairo, of the l4th, brings us . story almost too horri-- ble in its details for human belief, but which comes with such directness as to leave little doubt ofits truth. The attack on Fort Pillow by the rebesa under Forest, which, was amour ced on Wednesday, was followed up by frequent demands for it's surrender, which was refused by Major Booth, who commanded the fort, but while these fags were being sent Forre st took occasion to make favorable dispositions of his forces. The flags being refused, the fight was kept up until 3 P. M., when Major Booth was killed, and the rebels, in large numbers, swarm. ed over the insgeneimepts. 1mmedintely upon the surEender epsued scene which baffah:s de- scription. Vp to that time comparatively few of our-mc had been killed bat, insatiate as 6ands, the rebels commenced an ind scriminate butchery of the whites and blacks, including ,he wounded. Both white and black were iayonsttsl, shost er eq sabred; evep dead bodies were horribly anatilated, and children of seven and eight years and several negro women killed in cold blood. Soldiers unable to speak from wounds were shot dead, and their bodies rolled down the banks into the river. The dead and wounded negroes were piled in heaps and burn cd, and several citizens who had joined our forces for protection, were killed or wounded. Gpt of the garrison of six hundred, only two hundred remained alive. The steamer PLaHe EaAey came up at about half-psst o'clock, and was hailed by the rebels under flag of truce. Men were sent ashore to bury the dead. and take aboard such of the wounded as the enemy had allowed to live, Fifty-seyen were taken aboard, including seven or eight colored. Eight died on the way up to Cairo. Six guns were captures! by the rebels, and carried of, in- cluding two tsn.ppand Parrots, and two twelve. pound howitzers. A large amount of stores was destroyed or carried away. They seemed to be moving toward Memphis.
 TIE CHRISTIAN COMPASSION An organiza- tion for the direction and carrying on of the work of the United States Christian Commis- sion, in this State, has been effected at the re- quest of the Executive Committee in Phila- delrhia, consisting of the following gentlemen as State Committea: ..' His Excellency, WM. A. ROCKINGHAM, Chairman.
 Rev. Robert Turnwell, D. D., Hartford, Vice i Chairman.
 Rev. E. L. Cleveland, D. D., New Haven, Rev. Edwin Harwood, D. D., Vice c-airuaa
 {. Professor John A. Porter, New Haven. |" D. c. Gilman, .." . i Col. Benjamin Pardee,
 Calvin Day, Esq, Hartford.
 ! Thomas Smith, Esq.,, :.
 John F. Judd, Esq, |. Nelson kingsbury, Esq, '' Hon. Francis Wayiadd, Jr., New Haven, Secretary. @ " 1 4. C. Hammond, Hartford, Treasurer
 The object of this committee is to circulate facts and general information, upon the work of the Christian Commission, to hold meetings in different places, throughout the State, and to collect funds in aid of the work. A compe- tent person will be employed to do the work necessary to accomplish these results, and de- legates who may wish to labor in the work fer a season in the army, will be recommended to, anu co"missionea Dy the Exective committee in Philadelphia. It is earnestly hoped that the noble work of the Christian Commission will be better understood and more thoroughly appreciated hy the people of the State than i, has been. -. sraz s.@. sas.zs
 NEw STATES ASp TEnnIroR1rs It sbecom- ing saeh common thing for us to-add new State 10 the Union that the act causes no com ment, and scarcely the uosiss of the press.- Yesterday the Senate passed an enabling act for Nebraska. whose people desire to form . State Government and Constitution, prepara- tory to admission into the Union. A report from a Conference commit:se of the two houses, en bill enabling the people of Monta- ga to forEs Territorial Government, was also adopted if the House of Representatives. In tao or .hsse years this new Territory will