Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-05-08
FORREST AND FORT PILLOW.

We have received, says the New Or
leans Times, lengthy communication
bearing the above title, for the whole ot
Ofthe preliminaries and the valor Of the
troops engaged there is no dispute. The
conflicting statements which have been
published all relate TO alleged acts OF
violence after the fort was captured.
Forrest, it appears, left jackson. Tenn,
on the morning OF the llth Of April, 1864,
awaiting the arrival of Chalmers with his
Mississippi command at Brownsville.
General Chalmers was then sent in ad'
vance, and on the morning OF the 18th
General Forrest arrived at the scene OF
action, and found that General Chalmers
had thus far succeeded only in investing
the fort. The rest of the narrative we
give in the words of our correspondent,
who was himselfa =" follower of the War
Eagle:
From the angry tones of the General s
voice in giving orders, and the trOwn
which gathered on his brow Immediately
after review of the situation, we, who
knew him so well, were aware that some
thing had gone amiss; his orders had
not been executed in the spirit which he
wished He Immediately ordered the
now dismounted columns to the front;
taking command of all the forces in per-
son, he ordered general advance along
the whole line. With cheers the columns
rushed forward to the assault, greeted by
sheets of grape and canister, which
ploughed their way with terrible slaugh-
Ter through the ranks, driving the Fed
erals from the second line of fortifica-
tiops within the inner trenches of the
fort Here, for more than three hours,
without change of position, the work OF
death continued without cessation. The
gunners within the fort, driven from their
pieces, were unable to work them on
account of the sheets of Southern lead
poured through the embrasures. Seeing
that the Federal officer commanding was
determined not to make the first advance
toward capitulation, his command
already suffered severely, and knowing
the ultimate fate destined for the doomed
fort, riding his fourth horse three having
been killed under him during the day.,
Forrest sought that part of the field
occupied by Cen Chalmers. He then
instructed that officer to send in flag
demanding the immediate surrender of
the fort and garrison, guaranteeing to
the officer in command, on his word as a
soldier and q gentleman, and the forces
under his orders, frrespectice OF color,
the treatment accorded IN civilized war
fare to prisoners. And now, with a
magnanimity worthy of all commeuda-
ton, the General, desirous of preventing
the further effusion Of blood, parleyed
for an hour with an enemy already
within his grasp. He told the commander
of the fort, through the officers bearing
the flag, that further resistance would be
suicidal madness Valuing the lives Of
his men, actuated by a humane desire
to stop further slaughter, and setting
forth that the consequences Of an assault
would rest entirely with him and might
be terrible, if his men were compelled to
carry the fort by storm, he urged him to
surrender. The Major replied, asking
an hour for consideration. This ruse
was toe manifest for Forrest TO entertain
for A moment. Learning that the i'm
preston prevailed in the fort that he was
not on the field in person, and that the
demands were made in his name by a
subordinate officer, so great was the Gen
eral desire to prevent the consequences
of an assault, that he rode up. to the
position occupied by the flag, in person,
Introduced himselfto the Federal officers
and repeated his demand. Seeing that
the officer commanding was deter
mined to delay a definite answer
as long as possible in hope Of receiving
reipforcemenis from Memphis, Forrest
made a second demand to the effect that
if his terms were not accepted in twenty
minutes he would take the fort by storm.
Turning TO an aid he ordered him to 90
10 Col Bell and tell him that when my
orderly bugler sounds the cavalry charge
to 90 over Wonder wall if he aud every
man under him perish in the attempt,
and furthermore, don't wish to hear OF
Tennessee being behind" TLen to an
other. You repeat the same to Col.
Mccullough and say TO him that l don I
wish TO hear Of Texas or Mississippi be
inc behind" To the second demand the
Federal commander returned the reply
that Fsrt Pillow would not be surren
Sered. Ordering his orderly bugler 10
ride ND the defle in rear OF the line OF
hattie and sound the charge, Forrest rode
forward 70 lead the assault in person.
When the clarion notes Of that bugle,
whose can to battle they had 80 ofien
followed. we're beard, with cheers The
men rushed to the assault. greeted BY
murderous discharge Of cannon at sixty
paces charged TO the muzzle with grape
and canister.
Thea, ta aAA
.You sbouM have seen our leader 60
fit,0n the battles 6ercest marge
Sweeping like falcon on the Toe