Idaho semi-weekly world. (Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho Territory) 1867-1868, 1867-10-23
Sen1i J Meeklp afurld.
THE FoRT Pillow AFFAIR.

E6s
The following letter ably tells its own story
and amply vindicates the author of it from the
malignant and utterly false charges which have
SO long been hurled against him, in connection
with the capture of Fort Pillow by the Con
federates under his command:
To the Editor of the Ne,o York Times:
A correspondent of the Times, whose letter
was published on the 25th inst, says:
& At the time of the capture of Fort Pillow
by the rebel General Forrest, and the massa-
ere of its entire garrison, Gen. (then Col
Lawrence was in command of Fort Columbus,
point On the Mississippi river above Fort
Pillow. Gen. Forrest. flushed with his victory
and his murders, marched from Fort Pillow
directly on Fort Columbus, notified Col. Law
renee that the commander and garrison OF
Fort Pillow had been massacred, informed him
that he commanded 10000 troops, and knew
that he Gawrence) had only Lulu, and order
ed him to surrender in one hours time, or he
and his command should share the fate which
had been visited on the garrison at Fl. Pillow"
I have hitherto borne in silence these out
rageous assaults upon my character as a man
and soldier; but decent regard for my own
reputation, and a 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, therefore, 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,
and that their falsity can be easily demonstrated
by proof which is within easy reach.
The official report of the United States off,
Ger commanding at Fort Pillow, and the testi-
mony reported by the Congressional Committee,
of which Vice-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 800 of these
sixty-fve of Them who were badly wounded, |
having been delivered by me to the officer COM
manding United States gunbOat in the vicinity
Of the Fort, and about $50 Can official de-
scriptive list of whom is now in this city in
the possession of Gen. Thomas Jordan having
been turned over by me to Gen. Polk, at De
mOp0lis, Ala. Of these captured men ninety |
were negro soldiers Nor were the rest of the I
garrison all killed; for many of them effected
their escape, while others were drowned in the |
attempt. It will thus be seen that the pro-
portion of killed was not greater than is usual
IN the case OF SO severe fight, accompanied
by desperate assault and defence.
These facts are known to the Government of
the United States and acquit me not only in
the opinion of the President Mr.. Stanton and
Judge Holt, but in that of Congress, of any
violation of the rules of civilized warfare.
Otherwise | would have been long ago arrested
and tried upon the charge. For my own part
conscious of my innocence and knowing per
fectly well that have always waged war with
the strictest regard to the usages Of civilized
nations, / have never Stunned any investiga-
ton to which the Executive or Congress might
Suhiprt bv military condunt
As to the absurd charge that marched
against Columbus with 10000 men and de
handed its surrender, with threats that
would, in the event of its refusal, 's1nassacreT
its garrison, have only to say that never
was, during the war, within 40 miles of Co
lumbHs, after its evacuation by the Confeder-
ates in 1862 and that the only troops which
approached it at the time referred to, was a
scouting party of less than 100 men; and that
the official report of Gen, Lawrence himself
utterly disproyes your correspondents state
ments N. E. FORREST.