Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-05-13
THE FORT PILLOW MASSACRE T.,
Report Of The Committee Of Inquiry con-
oerHinS the Atrooity.

Although your Committee were instructed to
inquire only in reference to the attack, capture
and massacre Of Fort Pillow. they have deemed
it proper to take some testimony in reference to
the operations Of Forrest and his command i'm
mediately preceding and subsequent to that hor-
rible transaction.
1t VIII appear form the testimony that was
taken that the atrocities committed at Fort Pill
low were not the results or passions ELECTED by
the heat Of conflict, but were the results of a
policy deliberately decided upon and unhesita,-
ingly announced. Even if the uncertainty Of
the fate Of those officers and men belonging TO
colored regiments, who have heretofore been
taken prisoners by the rebels, has failed 10 con-
vince the authorities of our Government of thi.
fact, the testimony herewith submitted must con-
vince even the most skeptical that il is the in
tention Of the rebel authorities net 10 recognize
the officers and men Of cur colored regiments As
entitled 10 the treatment accorded by all civilized
nations TO prisoners of war.
The declaration Of Forrest and HE officers both
before and after the capture Of Fort Pillow, as
testified by such Of our men as have escaped AT
ter being taken by them, the threats contained
in the various demands for surrender made nj
Paducah, Columbus and other places, the re-
newal Of the massacre the morning after the
capture Of Fort Pillow, the statements made by
the reOel officers TO the officers Of our gunboats
who received the lew survivors at Fort Pillow,
all this proves most conclusively the policy they
have determined 10 adopt.
II was at Fort Pillow that the brutality and
cruelty Of the rebels were most f~eariuliy exhibit
ed. The garrison there, according 20 the last re-
turns received at headquarters, amounted 10 10
officers and 55S enlisted men, of whom 262 we're
colored troops, comprising one battalion Of the
9th United States heavy artillery, formerly the
lst Alabama artillery Of colorci troops. under the
command Of Major l.. +. Booth, one section %
the 2l light artillery (oolorei) and a battalion
Of the 18th Tennessee cavalry (white), COM
msndef by Major A. J. F. Bradford. Major
Booth was the ranking officer, and WIS IN COM
mand Of the fort
On Monday the 18th Of April. the anniversary
Of tar attack on Fort Sumter in April. lo6l, the
picAeis % the garrison were driven in Just before
sunrise. that being the first intination our forces
there had Of any intention on the part OF the en-
envy TO attack the place. The fighting soon be-
came general, and about @ O'Clock Major Brad
ford succeeded 70 the command and withdrew All
the forces within the fort. They had previously
occupied some entertainments at some distance
from the fort and further from the river. The
fort was situated on a high bluff which descended
precipitately TO the rivers edge, the ridge Of the
bluff on the river side being covered with trees,
bushes, and fallen timber.
Extending back from the river on either side
Of the fort was a %rayine, or hollow, the one below
the fort containing several private stores, some
dwellings and some government buildings con-
tanning commissary stores. The rayine above
the fort, however, was known as Cold Bank Ra-
vine, the ridge being covered with trees and
bushes. To the right, or below, and a little to
che F-nrs &C. #hn F~H -~mu n IL 49, ---u
not quite 20 elevated as the fort itself, on which
had been erected some log nuts or shsnties, which
were occupied by the white troops, and also used
for hospitals and other purposes. Within the
forts tents had been erected with broad floors for
the use Of the coiored troops. There we're six
pieces Of artillery in the fort, consisting Of two
6-pouuders, two l2-pounder howtzers, and two
lO-pounder PARROTS.
The rebels continued their attack, but 10 20
. or 9 O'Clock in the afternoon they had not
gained any decisive success Our troops, both
white aud black, fought most brayely. and we're
10 good spirits. The gunboat No. : New Era1.
Capt Marshall, took part in the conflict, she'll
Ing the enemy IS opportunity offered. Signals
had been agreed upon by which the officers in
the fort could indicate where the guns Of the boat
could be most effective. There being but one
gunbolt there 10 permanent impression appears
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th,f De RETAINED from f-;r- 49, .t. r-.-
although tbcv wrr. tbus ,I-1,,-- a.
of truce FIR fear that f. fhsv sb.,ft e-.u-
s1ece,d I'M c,p-uri,r f,a En-, -,
rfv aDv at-eitie. rR,- m;-bt IT, - r,of ~,
s,,ir., fba-- nv ve,s f.-, /, m,,f..5m 80
firing while A., dsg Of trr.s v-. s,;,. H.
however. that when BE- .,v NJ r-5.t. -.
down Tho r,vines ,b,vs tbs g., al .,L-n
sitous there. he got undsr v,v md -
the fort. lie determined n uss Db,t rtt1s am
muni,ion he had len i'm sbeliing ont the rSv;ra
but he did not get nm within sfis.tiys r,D~e Is
fore the final assault was made
Immediately after the sero,5 do of ,r,..
tired. the rebels made n rpsb FROM Tho ros,;,,
they had 90 trs,cberoulv rs;neJ AMI obr,;roJ
nosses.ion If the f,r, r,;si,c Tho - 80 -,
quarter 80 But lrttie onnortnn;,v w. IL
for resistance Our tr,ors-vb;to 81 ~
throw dovn Their arm All so,,b, ,as.a-aL
running down the steen blng 5esr the 60,
themselves behind ,rees srd Loo
the bushes and under the brusb I'm -,
into the river l~sav;na oniv -
beads above the v,tar Thon fS..
Of cruelty and murder without nar,1el =,
.;v;I;,~I - - - -. PaiAuel III
hawk and s,alniDg knifa - o~.oo5 ~ -.
,~troc;tiss ever comu;t,ed hr .ra|m ~
The rsbeis comman.oj
slaurbter. Sharing ncitber oce n = wL.a
colder or CIVILIAN III oe.ors 81
seemed to vie with each other in the devils
E@@a III III II AE ~