Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-08
The Fort Minis Massacre in 1878


From the Natchez Courier.l .-s
| must now describe to you Minis Fort.
Originally it was square, with gate in
front and gate with bastion in the
rear. 1t had inside block-house, a
dwelling house, kitchen, etc. Major
Beasley had enlarged the fort by extend
ing the square fifty feet. He moved the
front gate but left the old pickets stand
ing. You will presently see what a ter
F, rible blunder this was. In the fort were
about one hundred negroes; twenty-four
families of men, women and children
and about one hundred and eighty sol
diers l ~ A4N
Major Beasley's command in the fort
consisted of the following companies:
Captain H. Middletons, Captain Pain
beufs, Captain Engeps, and Captain
Jacks.
Major Beasley was warned ofapproach-
ing danger General Claibourne, by ex-
press, exhorted him to be vigilant A
few days before the attack, some ne
groes Of man named McGirt, were sent
up to his plantation for corn Three of
them were captured by the Indians and
He was not believed; the men, however,
were hurried on in their preparations.
On the next day James Cornell, who
had been out to see the Escambia battle
ground, reported that he had seen large
trail of Indians.
On Sunday morning, 26th of August,
three negroes reported that they saw
twenty Indians. Scouts were sent out
and reported no Indians visible. One Of
the negroes belonging to Random was
whipped for giving false information.
The other was requested to be whipped,
but Fletcher, the master, refused to do it.
The same negro who had been whipped
was sent out on Monday; he again saw
the Indians, but being afraid to return, he
went to Pierce ford, where, alas it was
too late, daaIw o
1t is said that on the morning of the
attack, about twenty apparently friendly
Indians came into the fort and told the
commander that the Indians would attack
the fort in about three days. With all
these heavy clouds lowering around, it
seems that the commander was struck
with an utter military blindness.
The morning of the Both of August
dawned serenely upon the devoted spot
The men were engaged in the routine of
duty; some at work on the fort, but the
gate pas left open.
At 10 O clock q. m. Major Beasley dis
patched an express to Colonel Claiborne
that he could hold the fort against all
comers.
Two hours passed on. Randon's ne
gro, as | told you, has been whipped for
giving false information. Tney wanted
to whip Fletchers also, but he refused.
At last he yielded to their opportunities.
The poor victim is brought out, when
harkl Indians Indiansl shouted the
sentinel, In moment sixty Indians
rush pell nell with the surprised garrison
into the open gate So complete was
the surprise that although they had to
traverse one hundred and fifty yards of
open space before they could reach the
fort, yet they were within thirty steps of
the fort at IL o'clock in the morning be-
fore they were noticed. Instantly there
burst upon the air that terrible war
whoop that curdles the blood of the
bravest man; it is a whoop quavered by
the rapid striking of the hand on the
mouth while whooping 1t is iercer than
the slogan of the Scotch Highlander, and
more terrible than the rebel yell or the
Union battle shout. When it is heard,
mercy folds her arms and pity sighs fare
well. In they rushed, pell NELL into the
outer gate; they crowded to the second
picket and made use of this as defense
by firing through the portfolios ON our
soldiers. r
Major Beasley, at the first cry of
alarm, rushed toward the gate. He was
shot in the bowels. His last order was:
Z" Fall back into the fort; save your am
munition." He staggered into the
kitchen and fingered but little while.
While the Indians were pouring a
deadly fire into our soldiers in front, a
party attacked the gate in the rear. This
they battered down. One party mounted
the block house, but were driven back.
The Indians brought fire arrows and tried
to fire the houses. At length, horror
and CONSERVATION we're brought to a
climax. The women and children had
taken refuge in the houses. The kitchen
caught on fire; the men were so hard
pressed they could not extinguish 1t; the
flames spread from roof to roof, until the
whole fort was in confagration. Never,
perhaps, was more appalling scene ever
witnessed. The war-whoop Of the saw
age; the roar Of musketry; the sharp
report of rifles; the confused shout Of
orders and counter-orders; the shrieks
of women and children; the roar Of the
flames and the crash Of falling buildings,
all combined to make itR scene Of horror |
that no tongue can describe. High above
the din of the conflict could be heard the /
command of the chieftain, Weathersford,
who vainly tried TO stop the carnage, !
but he could not The incarnate demons
surrounded the burning building and
danced and Knocked at the burning NC
tins within. Our men fought with des-
perate valor; there was no cry for guar
ter. One young lieutenant, Spruce Os-
burn. of Wilkinson county, although |
mortally wounded, when he was taken
into the house family said; Take me
back to the ground and let me see my /
men fight -rt
Captain Jack. Of jefferson county, |
fought after he had received two wounds ]