Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-05-05
ST. CLAIRSyILLE -: MAY 5.
the F0RT PILLOW MASSACRE.

Wtt,.esos--The Rebels Gain an En-
trance under Flag OF Truce-Union
Soldiers Shot Dow n In Cold u1eod, and
Hunted by Blood dhounds-Negroes and
white Men nurned and Barred Alive.
n The St. Louis Democrat publishes full
account Of the massacre Of the garrison at
Fort Pillow, given on oath by Mr.. Edward
B. Benton, a civilian who was resident at
Fort Pillow at the time Of the rebel attack
Mr.. Benton escaped to St. Louis, and was
there examined.by order OF Gen. Rosecran'.
His testimony fully confirms the previous
reports Of the barbircu, acts committed 10y
the rebels. We copy the material parts;
: VIOLATION OF THE FLAG OF TRUCE.
O When the flag of truce came IN did
they make any disposition of their troops
around the fort thereY
A Yes, sir After the flag Of truce was
sent and the firing ceased, they came up on
sl sides to within ten yards Of the very
entertainments that screened us. .rl
O. While the Gag Of truce was waiting2
A. Yes, sir. More especially the North
ern side-just under the bank looking to-
ward Coal Creek.
Q. How loug was that asg inside our
lines2
A. One hour was the time-I suppose
it was all of an hour.
@. Do you know the nature of it2
A. II was for an unconditional surren-
der
Q. It was refused by Major Booth2
A. By Major Bradtord-yes, sir--Major
Booth had been killed. He asked time to
consult with the gunbonts, and fnally re-
turned answer that there were none Of
Hawkins men there, and he never would
surrender.
HOW TUE FORT WAS CAPTURED.
Q. The second Tag that came iu-.about
how long after the first?
A. Well there was no second flag of
trucs, except the one; there was no firing
in the interim.
Q. Was there any firing while the first
was in2
A. No. sir; not a single shot was fred
on either side. After tho flag of truce had
been rejected, or the surrender rejected
they were so close to the fort ..,,,at about
three thousand just srr:.ung right in, and the
whole gar-r..,un threw down their arms at
pece: The bigger portion of the darkies
Jumped down the bank towards the Missis-
sippi River, without any arms at all, and
were followed by Forests men, and shot
indiscriininatey, black and white, with
handkerchief held over them in a great
number of instances-as many as fifty,
should think.
MURDERING TIE PRISONERS.
O. Did you see any of these persons
formed in line and shot down?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How many?
A. They were collocted, at least, should
think, fve or six different times.
q. How long line?
A. Well. it was more in collection than
il was properly in straight line. There
was line probably as long as this room
about thirty or thirty-fve feet
Q. Thcs. lines vera scattered by rebel
shots several timss2
A. Yes, sir.
O. Thsaa wors unsrnaed2
A. Unsrmed. No nrms Of dnp descrip-
tion, and held up both hands bcggmg Jo,
quarter.
@. Were you in that line2
A. No, sir, was not. Ii was sattcmpted
to put me in line, but clung to a man who
tried to shoot me, and / caught his gun and
prevented him, and ho took my money from
ns-some seventy doilars-ond ordered me
into line, raising his gun to strike me; and
as came to the line, the Captain made a
feint TO strike me with his sword, and told
me to give him my pocket-book which |
did, but, as he turned to put in others,
sprung away and clung close to this man
that had first taken my money. | said to
him that he had taken all the money, and
he must keep me from being shot like n
dog, as l was citizen, and had nothing to
do with the fight. He abused me in every
way by bsd language, saying that we had
fought them like devils, aud tried to kill all
Of Forests men, until We came to the back
stores, where he gave me soldier 5 coat,
and told me to wait moment until he could
step in and steal his share. AS soon as
was left took some clothing, n saddle, n
blanket, aud halter that were there, and
started out of the fort as one Of Forest i
men. On the way saw three persons shot
--mulattoes and blacks--shot dozen singly
in cold blood | succeeded in getting over
tho fortiGcations, and hid under fallen tim
bsr, whsrs | remained until dark. After
dark | attempted to go towards Hatchie
river bottom, but the fallen timber being 50
bad got lost and wandered near Pass No
2, leading out OF the fort, inside of it,
where | could sea all, where laid until the
next day, about 2 O'Clock. Iheord .ffty one
or too shots fred sin9b at different times
vith,n the fort during that TINS, and SC, ean,s
and cheers.
BLooDHoUNDs on THE TRAIL.
lnOut = u CloVk thc Jugs WSIc pbtlliiR NJ
close to me that knew they were on my
track.
q. What do you mean by the dogs2'
<. Hunting out people everywhere. =
They have dogs.
O. They had blcodhounds2
A. Yes, sir. | left tho most Of my cloth
ing and hastcned down ravne in the tim
Der, aud kept on through the ravine till
came to the Coal Crock bottom, some mil
and q hall, aud swan across. finally sue
eesdsd in getting to the island, had 4
swim across the river anda bayou. That i
oil saw.
BURNING THE PRISONERS.
Oh, was there at the fort two days afte
the battle and saw tho remains of burn
persons; helped TO bury one of tho deac
that saw shot in cold blood, lying righ
where he was left, and saw many OF them
whits and black, all buried together, an,
snumbsr three days afterwards not buried
Q. How many did you see shot in tha
way?
4. Ishosld think probably about tw
hundred