Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-10-23
4fliscellanu.
The Fort Pillow Butchery Con-
firmed.

1
A correspondent of the New York
Times replies to Fort Pillow FORESTS
defence of himself from the charge OF
the massacre of eolored troops, as fol,
lows:
General Forests force numbering
about 1000 men, was first heard of as
inaugurating the offensive campaign Of
1864 ON March 23d, when he was re-
ported to be at jackson. On the path
he attacked Union City, which was final
ly surrendered to him, with its garrison
On the 25th Forrest made an attack on
Paducca, which post was garrisoned by
605 men. This force withdrew int,
Fort Anderson, and succeeded in repuls
ing the rebels. General Forrest ther
sent communication to Colonel Hicks
commanding the garrison, demanding an
unconditional surrender, closing in these
words:
g If you surrender you shall be treated
as prisoners of war, but if I have to
storm your works you may expect nc
quarter" Colonel Hicks refused to sur
render, but, on the contrary, inflicted up
on the enemy such severe punishment
that Forrest was glad to retire after hav-
ing made three assaults. For several
days Immediately following, the rebels
did little beyond pillaging the surround
ing country. General Buford, of For
rests command, however, demanded the
surrender of Columbus, Kentucky, ac-
eompanying it with the threat that if the
demand was not complied with, "no
quarter whatever would be shown to the
colored troops"
On the 18th of April the attack on
Fort Pillow was made. This fort was
situated on high bluff which descended
precipitately to the river, the bluffs sides
being covered with trees, brush and fall
len timber. In the fort was a garrison
consisting of nineteen officers and 53S
enlisted men, 262 of the latter being col
ored. The whole were under command
of Major Booth. The pickets were driv-
en- in about sunrise and shortly after the
fighting became general, and Major
Booth was speedily killed, whereupon
Major Bradford succeeded to the COM
mand. Heimmediately concentrated all
the troops within the fort. The fight
ragged until afternoon the rebels gaining
no advantage. AT length flag of truce
was sent in by the rebels, with demand
from General Forrest for the uncon-
ditional surrender of the garrison. Ma
jor Bradford asked for time to consult
with the gunboats. In a few minutes an
other flag of truce was sent forward by
the rebels, and Lieutenants Akerstrom
and Leming went out to meet it. The
latter testifes that some one handed him
communication and said "That gives
you twenty minutes to surrender; l am
General Forrest" Major Bradford re-
fused to surrender, and Lieutenant Lem
ing gave his answer to General Forrest
in person.
While these negotiations were being
conducted under the sacred authority of
flag of truce, the rebels were moving
their troops into more favorable positions
than they could otherwise have attained
indeed, it was to obtain these same po-
sitions that they had been unsuccessfully
fighting all day. They even plundered
the quartermaster's and commissary
stores which were outside the fort, in
plain view of the gunboats which only
refrained from furnishing this violation of
the flag of truce, from fear that the reb-
els would make that an excuse for any
atrocities they might commit.
Immediately after the second flag Of
truce retired, the rebels made rush up.
on the fort from the positions which they
had so treacherously obtained, and gain
ed possession of the fort. As they en-
tered the cry of " No quarter" was pass
ed along their lines, and rose clearly
above the rattle of the musketry. The
garrison had little opportunity for resist
ance. Superior numbers had gained from
them by stealth what they could not OBJ
tain by hard fighting. But few shots
were fired, when black and white troops
together threw down their arms and fled
toward the river Then followed scene
of cruelty and murder without parallel
in civilized warfare, and needed only the
addition of the scalping knife to exceed
the worst atrocities ever committed by
savages. Shouting their cry of Nc
quarter" the rebels commenced an indis.
criminate slaughter, sparing neither age
nor sex, white nor black, soldier nor ci.
william. The officers and men seemed to
vie with each other in the devilish work
men. women and even children, wherever