Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-10-02
The Fort Pillow Affalr-A Card from Con
N. B. Forrest

To the Editor of the Neio York Times:
A correspondent of the Times, whose
letter was published on the 25th instant,
says;
"At the time of the capture of Fort
Pillow by the rebel General Forrest, and
the massacre of its entire garrison, Gen.
then Col Lawrence was in command
of Fort Columbus, a point on the Mis-
sissippi river above Fort Pillow. Gen.
Forrest. flushed with his victory and his
murders, marched from Fort Pillow
directly on Fort Columbus, notified Col.
Lawrence that the commander and gar
rison of Fort Pillow had been massacred,
informed him that he commanded 10000
troops, and knew that he (Lawrence)
had only 1000, and ordered him to sur.
render in one hour time or he and his
command should share the fate which
had been visited on the garrison at Fort
Pillow"
/ have hitherto borne in silence these
outrageous assaults upon my character
as a man and a soldier; but decent
regard for my own reputation, and
sense of duty to the brave gentlemen
who fought under me during the late
war, will not permit me to remain silent
any longer. / must hereafter ask you to
be pleased to allow me to say through the
columns of the Times, that the charges
made against me by your correspondent
are utterly false, aud that their falsity
can be easily demonstrated by proof
which is within easy reach,
The official report of the United States
officer commanding at Fort Pillow, and
the testimony reported by the Congress
sional Investigating Committee, ofwhich
Vice-P President Wade was Chairman,
show that the garrison consisted of only
about $50 officers and men. Other
proofs, which | can produce at any time,
show that captured, and can account
for, more than 300 of these--sixty.fiv
of them, who were badly wounded,
having been delivered by me to the
officer commanding United States gun
boat in the vicinity of the fort, and
about $50, (an official descriptive
list of whom is now in this city in the
Of General Thomas Jordan),
having been turned over by me to Gen.
Polk, of Demopolis, Alabama OF these
captured men, ninety we're negro soldiers.
Nor were the rest of the garrison all
killed; for many Of them effected their
escape, while Others were drowned in the
attempt. 1t will thus be seen that the
Of killed was not greater than
is usual in the case of so severe fight,
accompanied by a desperate assault and
defense.
These facts arc known TO the Govern
ment of the United States and aequit
me, not only in the opinion of the Presi.
dent, Mr.. Stanton aud Judge Holt, but
in that Of Congress, Of any violation Of
the rules of civilized warfare. Other
wise / would have been long ago arrested
and tried upon that charge. For my
own part, conscious Of my innocence
and knowing perfectly well that ] have
always waged war with the strictest
regard TO the usages OF civilized nations,
have never stunned any investigation
to which the Executive or Congress l
might subject my military conduct.
As to the absurd charge that marched /
against Columbus with 10000 men and |
demanded its surrender, with the threat |
that / would, in the event Of refusal, /
g massacre its garrison, | have only /
to say that l never was, during the war,
within 40 miles Of Columbus, after its |
evacuation by the Coufederates in 1862 I
and that the only troops which ap- /
preached Il al the time referred to, was I
party Of less than loo men /
and that the Official report Of Gea. Law /
renee himself utterly disproYes your cor /
statement
n b FoEREsT i