Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-04-26
THE FORT PILLOW MASSACRE.
From the special Correspondent of the N. v Tribune
AlouSD Cry, near Cairo, ILL.,,

From the special Correspondent Of the N. " Tribune
AlouND Cry, near Cairo, ILL.,,
April 10, 1864.
fhiB IS the third anniversary Of the murder
oil our brave Massachusetts, boys as they were
passing through Baltimore on their way to de.
fend the Capitol of the nation. MANY glorious
victories have been won since that day. and
great changes have taken place in the nation
but cannot but reflect that although In the
fourth year OF the war we are even now keRpiDg
the Rebels from crossing the Ohio by patrols Of
gunbOats.
Forrest and his freebooters have the free range.
II not the complete control of Western Tennessee
and Kentucky, from the Tennessee River to the
mississippi. The facility with which these guer
rlllas came through Tennessee and Kentucky 10
Paduoah, on the Ohio River, and sacked that
town, is rather mystery TO people who were
under the impression that we had large caval-
ry force at Memphis, and scouts throughout the
whole country He took some 400 Union SOL
diers prisoners at Union City, Tennessee, near
the Kentucky line, then marched 10 Paducah.
where he met with very warm reception at the
hands OF Col. Hicks aud his men, white and
black. He did not take the fort, thanks to the
bravery OF the little garrison and to the help of
tue gunboats, but he succeeded 10 pillaging the
city, and securing more booty than his men could
carry away.
But for savage inhumanity and barbarous
atrocity, the slaughter Of the garrison at Fort
Pillow surpassos every other event of this war.
The circumstances and incidents Of this terri
bic butchery SO for as | can learn them from
participants and eye witnesses is briefly as fol-
lows;
The fort conssted of mere earth works, mount.
ing six guns, two Of thsn 24-pounders. Ii was
garrsoned by about 300 white men of the 18th
tennessee Cavalry, and about 400 blacks. all
under the command Of Maj Booth of the 18th.
On Tuesday morning, April r. at about sun
rise, some 5000 Rebel cavalry, under Forrest.
appeared before the fort and commenced the
attack. About . a. m., they sent in flag Of
truce and demanded an unconditional surrender
OF the fort. Maj. Booth being severely wound
ed, the command had devolved on Mai Brad
iord' VINO responded that if the black men who
were fighting with him would be treated as nri.
seners oil war he would surrender, and not other
wise.
10 this the Rebels would not listen, having
sworn TO Kill every negro and every white man
commanding them The fighting was then re-
neWed, aud between that time and D. m. our
brave boys hnd repnlsed not less than three des
perale charges. They fought bravely, both
white and black, but tue Rebels were protected
to great degree by heavy woods back of the
fort Gunbont No. took part in the fight 80
long as her ammunition lasted, and did good SER
vice.
About q p. m, the Rebels sent in another iap
oil truce, and while our men ceased firing upon
them out Of respect for the flag, they surrounded
The Fort on all sides, and as soon as the flag
withdrew they made desperate charge from
every direction and succeeded in getting inside
t'ie earthWorks. Then followed a scene which
oeggars all description. Up to that time only
about ~ or 40 Of our men had been killed and
wounded The brave boys had fought against
great odds till now, but seeing further opposition
to be In vain, threw 'wu their arms and begged
for quarters But they pleaded in vain The
savage monsters had orders from their Cioyerns
ment TO lake no black men prisoners, and thew
looked upon the Tennesseeans fighting for the
Union beside black men, as no better than the
negroes. l have been in the hospital at this
place, and heard from the lips Of men who we're
shot in from one to five different places, the sad
details of that terrible slaughter.
Yea more. have heard from a black man
who was terribly wounded and buried alive an
account Of his sufferings
There are about 30 white and 40 black men
here with wounds of different kinds, and these |
are all that remain with possibly two or three |
excephons) of that brave band of 700 men viii
give few details of individual cases, as speci.
men Of the whole. The cases mention ara
fair sample Of those in the hospital, indeed many
are " Low that they cannSt tell the tale, and Al