Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-05-07
THE oApIURE OF Fort PILLOW.

From letter in the Mobile Register, giving ac-
count of Gen. Forests recent achievements We copy
the lowing particulars of the capture Of Fort Pillow
Early the morning. after personal reconnaissance,
General Chalmers depoyed his forces along the whole
extent of the outer line and commenced gradually clos
ing in the disputed works. But little mueketry hrng
was carried durpg the morning save by our sharp
shooera who were kept well to the front of line,
and kept the enemy close in THAR works. They in the
meantime, kept up furious sheing on our whole line,
both from the fort and gunboat anchored below the
place. BY IL o'clock our line had advanced to within
snort range OF the fort and the firing of small
arms became very brsk. Gen. Forrest, in the mean.
time had arrived on the field and assumed command
The first for. was charged and carried with great i'm
Leuosity, the enemy retiring hastily to the works in
the rear. Quickly following up their SUCCESS, boys
under the very OF the other FORT and had
| i: completely surrounded. --7-
Ceu Forrest then sent in flag Of truce, demanding
surrender Of the pace, inrreply to which the com
mander Major Boolh Reked to be allowed tEo hours
consider Gen. Forrest ia reply gave him fifteen
minutes, at tn, endof which time hostucs again
| commenced and charge around the whole line mads
as once which for mpetuosity has probably not been
surpassed during this Gen. Forrest led the charge
| OF one brigade, and Gen. Chalmers lhe Other. The
charge made over very abrupt hl, and when The
oIt reached ditch fully feet deep had to be
passed, and the opposite side parspei wall i've or
six feet high had to be scaled but boys sprang into
A
and in hss than twenty minutes there terminated prob
abJ one of the bloodiest and disastrous Ito the
enemy fights OF the war; With the fret that sealed the
Fapet wall he fighting hand 20 hand ,everal be-
ing knocked off by the dubbed muskets of the enemy
bat they soon broke in wild confusion running, jump
ing, unbng rolling down the bluff, pursued with mad
/ yels by our boys. A great many sought death BY
plungng intO the river leaving nought save crmson
streak where the tur0.d waters Iushed together
their 1ess carcsssos mark the ast Of their exist
4 thaf ia Init attg- n
e. tell the tale of the fate of their unfortunate COM
rades. Oar loss in the entire engagement will not
| coed twenty-five killed and one hundred wounded.
| Major Booth, the Federal commanding officer, was
killed ia the last assault. Major Bradford the next in
oommlnd was captured and paroled the field, but
Dasey violated it, and attempted his escape but waa
| aftcrSaId. retaken He vas q Tennesseean, and had
been gu 10y of many cowarGly outrages upon the
men OF the surrounding country. Toe whites that gar
rssned The fort belong 10 tue Is n Tennessee (U 81
YolunIees. Eve pieces Of artillery Two l0-poundcr
riots, two IL ponuder Howzss and one II FOUNDER
rhed Napoleon and about 600 stand Of small arms,
among tue spos The Parret guns turned on the
guabo. after the capture of The fort but only fred two
shots before she observed TO put all steam aud
move away as rapidly possible. There were great
many deserters IN tbs fort from our own army and
many have been recognized among the prisoners.
Four or FIVE stores snd hotel comprise the buildings
of the place. Tn, stores had been but recently re
stocked with new goods. They rapidly plundsred
and reduced 20 ashes Pllly hundred thou and dol
lars worth of stores burned geat Quantities OF
SALT cofee sugar. &c. Much OF this might have been
saved aud would been Of great vslds army
but of the soldiers becoming int ,xicated set fire
20 the houses preml.urey and being built Of rough
dry material. they vere rapidly consumed.