Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-04-19

captured, and paroIed TO the camp.
The cuemy accuse him Of breaking his
parole and escaping. The more prob
able solution Of the matter is, he has
been murdered Captain Young had
his Clothes riddled with bulless after he
was disarmsd and prisoner. The loss
Of the 18th TenEessee cavalry vas about
eighty-6ve killed; the remainder wound
ed and captured OF the fifty seven
woinded (white and black that came
on board the Platte Valley, seven have
since died; wounds are ali Of a bad
character
All state that they we're shot or saber-
ed after they we're anarmed, and many
we're robbed The morning after the
eight the rebels went over the ground
and shot many Of the negroes that had
not died Of their previous wounds. Our
wounded received no attention until they
fell into our hands, when they have been
kindly and skillfuly treated by Doctor
Fitch, Post Surgeon. and O. & Damon,
gunbOat No. 2o The officers Of the
Platte Valley deserve the highest credit
for the comforts eheerfally extended to
the sick and wounded. The store houses,
hospitals and barracks we're all burned
By the enemy with their centents, except
a. few articles taken ont Al an early
hour - tk3
Major G. W. Anderson. Forests Ad-
jatant General, told me that the burning
Was uuinientional BY the officers, aud
was the result Of the licentiousness Of
drunken soldiers
The bodies Of many col0red soldiers
we're burned with them.
The rebel officers apoiogized for the
hatchery committed, on the grounds that
they cannot controi the raqe and fadig-
nation Of their soldiers when they find
their own slaves fighting against them,
as in this case
General Chalmers said to me, 81 al
though Il was against the policY Of bis
Government to spare negro soldiers and
their officers, he had done all in fis pow
er to stop It, and had arrested many for
killing them"
Captain John Young informed me that
he saw Forrest shootone man, and strike
another over the head with his sabre. for
not eeasing the carnage at his order.
IL Is my decided opinion the officers
eonnieTed a. the slaughler-1 it vas
not thszresult of Their orders. ChalE s
was heard TO say, Although he tried 20
stop it, he yet believed il was right.
Another officer said our white troops
would have been protected if they hsd
not been foHud on duty with negroes.
etc While they attempted to make il
appear they had lost but few, il Is evident
that they were severely punished.
Colonel Reed, commanding rebel Ten
nessee troops, vas rnortaIly wounded,
and dying yesterday morning. An eve
witness told me they had, short dis.
ianee in the country. two or three well
hlied hospitals SIR, the Govesament
will have 10 turn new leaf ia is policy
on this subject Either to withdraw il
eolored troops from the service, or re-
tsliate for the inhumanity extended 30
them and their officers While | believe
the Government is paying dearly for
the whistle ia employing negroes as
sellssrs iA tbsir preesas gross ixnerabee
and want 81 tffose essential eiements n
constitute reliable soldiery. Humanity
demands their protection Judging lfom
what saw at Fort Pillow. an certain
that where our colored troops fall into
the power of rebels. they aud their ogH.
GERS may hope for no quarters Although
| ana now out Of the service, with an
impaired constitution, sink or swim
survive or perish, feel ike re-enter-
ing the Geld for the war. and as a special
favor, 10 be assigned 10 duty against
Forrest, with the battle-cry. Remember
the massacre Of Fort Pillow. We lost
four pieces Of artillery.
In the face OF the appalllnp spectacle
presented az Fort Pillow By rebel bar.
barity, felt no little disgust at the ex-
oessive etiquette, courtesy and hospitali-
ty extended 10 the rebel Chalmers and
his staff by those who wore the insignia
Of Federal officers This has no refer
enee to the officers OF the genboats, who
diligently discharged with propriety the
duties devolving upon them. What shall
be done IN the cruel and bloody p.emi-
sesf The loyal fathers. brothers. hus-
bands and sons Of Tennessee have been
inhumanly slaughtered by those whose
families, aiders and abettors have been
residing within ous lines, and under the
protection Of the Federals since The war
began. am the advocate Of making
war as mild as the rules Of civilized war
fare will admit But whatever the enc
my, by their condaet, make il necessary
10 be done, should be done /. is upon
the unrelenting in arms, and those that
+ give them known aid and comfort that
would visit with harsh retrihution.
Hence | now renew the recemmenda-
/ ton once made to the military aathori-
+ ties in the Department OF the Missouri,
( to be visited upon the rebels Of Tennesse,
E by commanding officers of the Depart
nent Of the Tenuessee. to-wit Send i'm
mediately South, from Tennessee, all
families who have laid up their treas
nres in lhxie--to enjoy the blessings
/ and immunities there aboauding. Ifthis
is deemed too severe, I reeonment, as
/ the very least that can be done, to ferret
out the families Of Forrest Chalmers,
Major Anderson, and those Of all the in
/ ferior officers and men Of FORESTS COM
msnd and send them South, never TO re-
turn, until they can bring forth fruits
meet for repentance. Send them along
"a mighty army TO eat out the sub
stance and engage the attention ofthose
+ who have only time to burn our towns
and murder our people cannot omit
to mention the kind and unremisting at
tention given by many lady passengers
to the sick and wounded on the Platte
Valley. Yours, etc, G.