Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-14
Fort Pillow---ssanton's Proposed Mon
ument---The Truth Of History Vim
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II has been said that Secretary Stanton
ordered the site of Fort Pillow &c be appro-
priated to monumental purposes. A marble
shaft Is to be erected in honor Of the brave
men who fell when Forrest stormed and car
ried the stronghold. There were daring
deeds done when Fort Pillow was captured,
and ID is well that posterity shall Rot forget
IL there were bloody work we were not
amszed When stroEgholds are carried by
Storm rules of war as TO the iate of the van
quished are not exacting as 70 the merciful-
ness of the yictors. This very announce
ment says the Memphis Baltstnl, BY the
War Secretary, Of his purpose, thus to ap-
propriate the site Of the famed fortress. Is
designated to beget the discussion Of alleged
and real crimes, countless numbers Of which
we're committed BY the leaders and soldiers
of both late armies. The only difference is.
that one class of cases have a fair audience
at Washington, while even Butler goes
unwhipped of Justice; library. the richest
| and rarest In America, was needlessly burned
hy another Omar: Masonic lodges were
plundered and women violated. The ac-
cursed war was begotten BY the worst men
the country ever produced, till war itself
threw up to the surface fiends incarnate. As
the North furnished its full quota Of politi-
cal knavery, so it complied with all demands
when blood-thirsty bandits were required.
The South began even, and as FAR as We are
advised, never went ahead while knavery
was eliminating in crime.
If anybody thinks we are not disposed to
do full Justice to either contestant, We would
advise them to make tour next summer
along Sherma;I's pathway through Georgia
and the Carolinas, and then, by way of
changing the scene, with the same facts, in a
sort of low comedy, let them follow Morgan
through Kentucky and Ohio. There was a
brief but brilliant reign of Confederate dia-
bolism in East Tennessee. which Governor
Brownlow, unfortunately for the State, still
remembers; and Mitehell's achievements IN
Huntsville were hardly conform able 20 the
rules of civilized warfare. We do not
think that either party TO the fratricidal
contest has much to boast of in the way Of
Christian virtues, illustrated while the ac-
cursed contest was in progress; and had
hoped that the results OF selishness and sec
tionalism were 20 well and hatefully pre-
sented that the whole people of all States
would at once go back to original princi-
piles of mutual forbearance, generosity, kind
ness, Union. Stanton does not desire this
consummation, and would, therefore, turn
the eyes Of ali brutal passions, glowing with
bate and vengeance, to a question about
which there was clamor enough.
Let history slowly and silently work out
evenhanded justice TO participants and
leaders in the late unhappy war. This
generation is incapable of the task. There
is no danger that Fort Pillow will be
forgotten, and heroes, that fell on that
famous spot, will not the sooner be engulfed
by oblivion. This impotence, to erect en-
during monumental piles, smacls Of desire
TO PREJUDICE a case that will be fairly sub
mitted TO the verdict Of posterity. We
would modestly suggest TO his potent majesty
of the war Department that he has won
honor enough in war, and now fills a place
in which he share the honors Of another
President, who would be as famous in re-
storing peace as his predecessor in giving
unity to American States. VIII not the
Secretary think about it?
How far mereiful and Just God approves
our views, we are not advised, but the
majestic river that flows at the base of the
once blood-stained height on which Fort
Pillow stood is slowly removing the very
soil whereon visitors and vanquished met
horrible deaths. Stant0n's monument might
a. well adorn one as another Of the head
lands of the Mississippi. Half Of Fort Pill
low has already disappeared. Gen. Pillows
works at Randolph, once deemed memories
Of strategic skill, have gone down the tide
Of rushing waters, if not to oblivion. Island
10 no longer lifts its frowning front above
the waters of the Mississippi. There is not
a vestige of earthworks whence cannon
helched flame and smoke as fvapor Of gun
powder, or local enmities, could dam up the
mighty river. Stantou, for aught we know,
is working against destiny.